Structural-functional study of tourism sample areas from the perspective of experts and investors (Case study: Golestan province)

Tourism, as the largest service industry in the world, has a special role and place in the development of geographical areas. Once the dimensions and areas related to tourism are well known, more desirable scientific and practical steps will be taken for the real development of geographical areas. One of the important strategies for the development of tourism is investment in areas with tourism potential that expand the tourism industry. In these places, it can be used as an effective tool for the comprehensive growth and development of host communities. Model tourism areas are considered as an investment opportunity available to domestic and foreign investors and investment based on the functions of model tourism areas will be closer to success, which will also lead to the development of tourism in Golestan province. Unfortunately, the lack of basic studies and database on the expected structure and functions of each of the sample tourism areas in the province, has caused confusion or misleading investors. This article in terms of purpose, application and in terms of nature and method, Descriptive-analytical type; And its kind of a survey. In the present article, after reviewing research background studies, valid scientific and research articles and sources, structural and functional criteria of tourism sample areas were identified and after assessing their validity using the opinions of academic experts and experienced experts, two questionnaires were developed.The first questionnaire includes questions on demographic characteristics and structural and functional evaluation criteria of sample tourism areas from the perspective of experts and the second questionnaire from the perspective of investors. Then the questionnaires were distributed among 30 tourism and investment experts and 30 investors in Golestan province. The results showed that from the point of view of experts, public sector involvement in the field of investment, public participation and development and equipping of sample tourism areas and from the point of view of investors, functional diversity, location, facilities, financial resources, private sector investment and geographical location Model tourism areas are effective in the growth and development of tourism model areas. Also, according to experts, the development of model tourism areas in Golestan province attracts credit for creating and developing tourism infrastructure, organizing tourists and tourism growth, and from the perspective of investors affect tourist attraction and economic development. Contrary to investors' opinions, experts also believe that bureaucracy and cumbersome laws do not affect the attraction of investors in these areas, and the functional factors of the sample areas that affect investor attraction are advertising and marketing, while investors in addition to advertising and Marketing, diversity of function and management of sample tourism areas are considered to affect the willingness to invest.